Local Guides World
Top Tourist attractions in Chattanooga, United States
Top Rated Tourist attractions in Chattanooga
Chattanooga Guided Adventures Lookout Mountain Incline Railway Bike Tour Meeting Location
National Medal of Honor Heritage Center
Walnut Street Bridge
Riverpoint
Walnut Street Bridge
Bluff View Sculpture Garden
Raccoon Mountain Mtb Trail
Cardboard Hill
Hunter Museum of American Art
Tennessee Aquarium
Coolidge Park
Creative Discovery Museum
Top Reviewed Tourist attractions in Chattanooga
Ruby Falls
Sculpture Fields at Montague Park
River Gallery
Standifer Gap Marsh
Stringers Ridge Park
Chattanooga Guided Adventures Lookout Mountain Incline Railway Bike Tour Meeting Location
Cardboard Hill
Walnut Street Bridge
Bluff View Art District
Pot Point Nature Trail
Raccoon Mountain Caverns and Campground
Ritchie Hollow Trail
Reviews
It was a wonderful experience to walk thru the narrow caves to see the waterfall named Ruby Falls. The tour is well organised and safe, so long as you take care not to bump your head against the rocks! The history behind the discovery of the falls is very romantic. Definitely worth a visit. They have a well stocked souvenir shop. If you feel adventurous, they have a zip line to try to have fun.
Great staff that meets you and are friendly. Take you to your site and tell you about the park. Sites are gravel and ours as for the most part level. Did see some rigs that had to have some blocking or jacks extended fairly far to get level front to back.
Only negative comment that I would have on this trip, have stayed before and had no negative comment, is that there was kids running around close to our site till past 11:00. Not much could be done at that time, and we left early the following morning, so did not pass along to staff.
Only negative comment that I would have on this trip, have stayed before and had no negative comment, is that there was kids running around close to our site till past 11:00. Not much could be done at that time, and we left early the following morning, so did not pass along to staff.
We took our Cub Scout pack for the Crystal Palace Tour, and we had the best time! They were so easy to work with getting the details ironed out and the tour guides were so great with the kids. Each one of them kept the kids engaged and made everyone laugh, on top of highlighting the natural beauty of the cave. We highly recommend!
We did the 45-minute walking tour, and had a great time. This place has beautiful caverns, great tour guides, and plenty of kitschy options from which to choose in their little gift shop. Conveniently on the way from Atlanta to nashville, we stopped near Chattanooga here to check things out. Next time we'll try Ruby Falls!
Went on the Waterfall tour and had an excellent time. The wild cave course was at times challenging, but our guides were very helpful and encouraging. Saw some truly incredible formations. A very easy way to get some spelunking experience in a very controlled environment.
Camping sights are well maintained and the staff is extremely helpful. Great location just minutes from lookout mountain and the aquarium. Only complaint is the playground has outdated and unsafe playground equipment. Kids still had a great time and it didn’t cause any issues.
Amazing Cave full of beautiful rock features and of course its namesake Ruby Falls. After a brief talk, about do’s and don’t, we stepped into an elevator and was whisked into the land below… Easy to walking in the cave! Many amazing features in cave while walking to the falls. There is ample parking, several shops to enjoy. One especially enjoyable shop is the glass blowing store. Hand-blown figurines, pretty pricey, but a visual experience you sho up don’t miss. There is a self order cafe if you are hungry while you wait for your tour! Be sure and reserve your time slot. They have tours every 30 minutes!
Great location near Chattanooga and very nice campground!! The staff was top notch! Very friendly and helpful!! Was great to have staff on site till 10pm. Didn't go to the onsite cave this time, but will next time. Definitely plan on going back! Stayed in the "rustic" sites near pool. Probably only negative was that shower stalls in bathhouse were small making hard to change clothes and the showerhead was way too low. But other than that, was great!
Had an excellent time. ADA accessible, great park. Kinda concerning they're replacing the excellent background views with housing but if it's needed in the community, I applaud it being there. Hopefully the additional residents will appreciate their new artistic neighborhoods back yard. A community BBQ/picnic addition to the park would be a great. Very clean, very cool place to check out.
Love this park. You should put this event in your annual to-do list. Wonderful weather. Great music. Good food truck presence. Could not have asked for a better afternoon!!! Free parking, free admission. Dogs welcome.
Nice view over the river. Had a couple of buskers playing music & lots of dog friends. Safe for the family. There’s a lot of interesting history to read about too. I recommend stopping by to check it out if you’re in the area! The downtown life is great in the area too.
Ruby Falls, one of the three attractions visited while in the area of southeast Tennessee, Chattanooga, and even Georgia. I had heard good comments from family members so I decided to go as well.
The place itself is really neat and very well organized, having a gift shop, a place to eat, and then the shaft for an elevator to go down into the Earth quite a distance, which I forget the real amount.
Once you’re down there, everything begins with a nice story of how these falls were found and named.
This adventure/Explorer crawled his way until he found this amazing site.
In my opinion the journey to the falls are more exciting than the falls itself, yet it is really amazing to see how this was found, and what lies beneath the Earth.
Good to take good walking shoes,(saw some ladies with some type of high heels, which was nonsense).
It can get slippery and a bit dangerous for some people therefore, railways have been added to hold onto them. A lot of nice interior formations, for those who are earth engineers, geologists or topics alike should really enjoy this.
Recommended!
The place itself is really neat and very well organized, having a gift shop, a place to eat, and then the shaft for an elevator to go down into the Earth quite a distance, which I forget the real amount.
Once you’re down there, everything begins with a nice story of how these falls were found and named.
This adventure/Explorer crawled his way until he found this amazing site.
In my opinion the journey to the falls are more exciting than the falls itself, yet it is really amazing to see how this was found, and what lies beneath the Earth.
Good to take good walking shoes,(saw some ladies with some type of high heels, which was nonsense).
It can get slippery and a bit dangerous for some people therefore, railways have been added to hold onto them. A lot of nice interior formations, for those who are earth engineers, geologists or topics alike should really enjoy this.
Recommended!
We had a level campsite with plenty of grass adjacent to the site. The campground also has a "Bark Park" for dogs to run freely, play, and interact with other dogs. The restrooms and laundry were clean and well maintained. The campground amenities were well maintained. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The campground is conveniently located just off of Interstate 24. The location is close to downtown Chattanooga. We can't say enough good things about the campground and its staff. We highly recommend and would definitely stay there again.
This review is only for the cavern tour as we didn’t stay in the campground. We did one of the 45-minute guided tours with 2 adults and 2 kids. Had a fantastic experience overall. The location was easy to find, staff was friendly, our tour guide (Michael) was fantastic - funny and knowledgeable - and the cavern itself is beautiful. The only reason I’m not giving them 5 stars is due to the ticket price, which I found a little steep compared to other family activities.
Great pedestrian, walking bridge. Lots of people, bikes, and dogs. Easy to walk across and went to the park nearby. Overall a good walk and good experience.
Breathtaking and inspiring and simply beautiful. I didn’t know that I needed a place like this to exist, but I’m glad it does. Will definitely make this a go to place to bring visiting family and friends!
Thankfully, we visited on a beautiful day, and there weren't too many people there, so it was a nice peaceful walk through the park, checking out the interesting sculptures. I would definitely visit again. The only issue I had, was the bathrooms located at the park were extremely dirty, looking like they hadn't been cleaned in months. Other than that, I enjoyed my visit and would return.
We are a family of five. Our kids are 14, 9 and 8. We are a very active family and this trail was perfect for us, it was challenging, but not to much. We made a pit stop at the waterfall for about 20 mins, it was absolutely gorgeous and so relaxing! I highly recommend this trail!
Love the view from this bridge! It's a beautiful walk to the other side of town. Makes getting around easy.
This is a moderate hike. I am a big girl and I struggled a good bit. But I did it. The hike is up the side of a MTN. But the waterfall at the top is absolutely incredible. Definitely worth the hike.
I don’t get to Chattanooga as often as I would like, but even if I’m just driving through, I have to stop here…even for just an hour! This place feeds a part of my soul like no other art experience in Tennessee.
Not only is it a great place for a nice leisurely stroll…it’s full of sculptures! Really great and epic sculptures! AND it’s free!
The grounds are always well maintained and it’s real easy to get to, just a couple of blocks off of I-24.
Not only is it a great place for a nice leisurely stroll…it’s full of sculptures! Really great and epic sculptures! AND it’s free!
The grounds are always well maintained and it’s real easy to get to, just a couple of blocks off of I-24.
Such a cool experience. I saw a lot of people just laying back on the lawns and catching some rays. Very peaceful place. Great photo ops.
A couple of good Galleries and restaurants, very small but scenic.
Good place to visit on your way to the walking bridge.
You can find some free street parking if you look a little
Good place to visit on your way to the walking bridge.
You can find some free street parking if you look a little
Good view there, but it because it have poo onthe walk way. Be careful while you walking, Parking need to paid
Great tourist stop. Quality tour. A must when visiting Chattanooga.
Savanah was our guide. She was fun and led a tour and included much valuable information.
Walking through the cavern was beautiful. It is not too strenuous and is fairly easy. Just watch your head there are low spots. Lots of interesting formations and photographic opportunities.
Once at the falls, it is lit up with changing colored lights, quite an interesting site. This is a must do when visiting.
Also big shout out to the beautifully cinematic short film that plays before the tour, giving a bit of history on how it was discovered. Very well done.
Savanah was our guide. She was fun and led a tour and included much valuable information.
Walking through the cavern was beautiful. It is not too strenuous and is fairly easy. Just watch your head there are low spots. Lots of interesting formations and photographic opportunities.
Once at the falls, it is lit up with changing colored lights, quite an interesting site. This is a must do when visiting.
Also big shout out to the beautifully cinematic short film that plays before the tour, giving a bit of history on how it was discovered. Very well done.
I highly recommend coming here. It’s good for kids, adults…everyone! This is a very unique experience that everyone should enjoy.
Buying tickets in advance was the most convenient for my family of 4.
Staff is VERY kind and helpful. The tour guides were superb!
Buying tickets in advance was the most convenient for my family of 4.
Staff is VERY kind and helpful. The tour guides were superb!
This place was so beautiful, amazing, and very interesting on how ruby falls became ruby falls. Beautiful view inside the cave was breathtaking. I 1,000% recommend going so you can see just how beautiful it really is. Photos just don’t give it justice on what you actually see.
The hike is great until you cross the road onto the river side. Trail essentially turns into a bug infested swamp, and theres a long, dangerous stretch of road walking. Don't do it, just turn around when you get to the road and hike the trail back the way you came in.
A moderate out-and-back 2.8 mile nature trail featuring two small waterfalls plus a magnificent one at the very end. In the middle is an incline with stone steps making it a slight workout. Lots of moss-covered rocks and various seasonal flowers can be spotted along the way. Old shoes are recommended as there are two creek crossings and possible mud puddles on the trail (depending on rainfall).
The caves and falls deserve 5 stars. They are gorgeous and it was really cool seeing the underground waterfall. The amount of tours that they run simultaneously and the amount of people that they pack into a tour deserves negative stars. Our tour guide was worthless as we were in the back of a line of 30 or more people(or so it seemed). We couldn’t hear anything that she was saying. They start off by making you watch a very cheesy film about the caves, which made the tour guide even more worthless. Every 10-15 minutes you had to meld yourself into a very narrow cave wall and let another huge tour group wriggle past you. Very uncomfortable. I added a few Timelapse videos to illustrate this fact. Once we got to the falls and hung out for a while, we realized that our tour group had left us. We didn’t hear the tour guide announce leaving and didn’t really notice until another group came along. We walked back a little ways with the other group, but now that we realized the complete lack of concern about missing people(because the groups are WAY to big), we decided to take our time and walk back out on our own. I say definitely check it out but hopefully the people running the tour will put the safety of their guests, instead of how many people they can pack in there at once, first.
Perfect pedestrian bridge for people (and fur babies) of all ages. The views all of the way around are beautiful! During the fall/winter, it can be a bit breezy and cold, but with a coat on, we were all still very comfortable. It is taken care of well and you learn a lot as you walk!
Beautiful hike really enjoyed it. No bathrooms on site though so something to keep in mind.
Really cool place with impressive sculptures. It was really serene to have a picnic and play with our dogs surrounded by art. I wish it wasn't surrounded by construction and not so esthetically pleasing surroundings but it's a little gem in the middle of it all.
Great local gallery with a variety of styles. Reasonably priced.
Nice little hiking trail. There is a dilapidated house in the trail, so keep an eye out for it!
The hill is so much fun for the kids, unfortunately some dog owners don't pick up after their pets.
Great family time with others just trying to have a little fun. It's simple but enjoyable.
We enjoyed our walk! Lots of benches to sit on if you want to relax or if you're tired. Beautiful views!
Over 100 artists are represented in this gallery, great pieces at phenomenal prices. A must for anyone visiting Chattanooga.
Well maintained trail head in the heart of a bustling city. The public restroom was clean. The cute little gnome villages are super cute and unexpected. The overlook of Chattanooga is a great place to sit and watch the city.
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@gottalovett_photography
Follow along on my adventures on instagram
@gottalovett_photography
I loved this cave tour!! We got there earlier than our tickets so they gladly exchanged it for an earlier time. We only had to wait 10 mins. Taylor was our humorous and very informative Guide. I enjoyed the history and am fascinated with how it was found by Leo Lambert and developed into what it is today. . The labeling of the formations was very nice but the reward for the long walk in was definitely…Ruby Falls. It’s spectacular and beautiful! I didn’t mind the colored lights at all! There are some very low spots, watch your head and some narrow spots. We had some kids Field Trips pass us on the pathway, but for the most part we were the only ones in the cave. We could hear Taylor anytime he talked. I definitely it recommend it! 👍👍👍
Nice little Wilderness Area in the middle of neighborhoods outside of downtown Chattanooga. Enjoyed some elevation change, a nice view, and a small walk in the woods. In addition to hiking, mountain biking is available, but unlimited trails.
Fun to slide down. When the grass is dead and dry it can be hard to find a good spot that doesn’t have to much friction.
A local treasure :) Any time our friends visit with kids, this spot is their favorite, over all the other tourist attractions. Isn't that always the way?!
Neat place to bike, hike, or run. Take note, some of the trails for biking are partially paved unevenly (patches of dirt and sections of cement). It makes it a little bit more challenging to ride but other than that, everything else seems to be in good shape.
Visited the River Gallery with my wife during a vacation. It was amazing, probably the highlight of the trip for me. I usually think of art galleries as snobby and like I need to seem like I know stuff about art to fit in, but it was a very welcoming place. The lady who welcomed us in was extremely kind and helpful.
I'm very interested in pottery and loved getting to see the handmade work there. The artists' work is fantastic and we left with 2 pieces, a mug and a dish, to take home to draw inspiration from.
Great gallery, highly highly recommend.
I'm very interested in pottery and loved getting to see the handmade work there. The artists' work is fantastic and we left with 2 pieces, a mug and a dish, to take home to draw inspiration from.
Great gallery, highly highly recommend.
What a beautiful way to experience downtown Chattanooga! The art was interesting, eclectic, and well placed. easy to walk, but it is hard to find parking... be patient. It's worth it.
Closest trail to hike and Mtn bike with forest near downtown, basically in downtown. Do not recommend going right after a big rain unless you don’t care about mud on your shoes etc. It has a beautiful overlook not too far from the Spears Ave. trailhead. It is very hilly so if you are out of shape may want to take it slow and bring some water! They have markings for which way bikers and hikers are supposed to face depending on the days of the week. Definitely a trail to stay alert on cause of the different activities, hills, and lots of tree roots, so watch your steps! Has automated restrooms at the spears Ave trailhead, but they close sometime near dark. Trees are well marked and lots of maps throughout to navigate. Definitely a must do trail in Chattanooga!💛🌄
This gem packs great hiking trails with varied altitudes for a great walking experience. There are fantastic views of the surroundings and adequate parking at the trailhead. Lots of mountain bikers, so stay alert.
Went on this trail today. I really was trying to make it to the big waterfall but didn’t make it there as I didn’t know how far it was. Other reviews said it would take 30 mins but it was past that and only saw small baby falls. I did like the views of the lake approaching the trail. The trail itself is very shady. Lots of rocks, some were like rock steps. The path switches up between rocks, flat land, then up or down hill. I enjoyed it. I would have loved to find the waterfall
Great place to walk around and see some views, close to some other cool places to visit too!
Very nice selection of pieces at a variety of price levels. The staff could not have been nicer or more accommodating. I will be back!
It is an interesting location!
The marsh seems to have been bulldozed. There was nothing there but a huge church, a massive parking lot, and a lot of big construction equipment.
Awesome views and history of LookOut Mountain
This ended up being one of our most favorite things we did! Shoutout to Starbucks for having a bin of boxes they keep by the back door for people that need one!
Omg.. so much fun but bring a plastic saucer. Cardboard didn't really work well. You fly down the hill so be prepared.
Easily locatable with a parking lot and map at the trailhead. The trail is clearly marked and is accessible for walking. At the mid point is the overlook with a large deck and 180 views of the north side of the city. Pretty moderate in length, time, and hill effort.
I was in Chattanooga for 3 days and I stopped by BVAD every day! Rembrandt Coffee is a great way to start the day with tasty food and coffee. Nice sculpture garden and great views of the TN River and Walnut St Bridge. This is only a 1.5 block, art district but it has a unique, European vibe. There is limited parking for free, 2 hours.
10 gallery rooms of various art mediums. The space is bigger than you would think!
Free admission. Pieces from $5 (postcards) to $45,000 sculptures. Knowledgeable and friendly staff.
Would recommend. New pieces weekly
Free admission. Pieces from $5 (postcards) to $45,000 sculptures. Knowledgeable and friendly staff.
Would recommend. New pieces weekly
Most of this forest trail is moderate with occasional rocks and boulders. You will cross over a couple creeks that may have a little water but the actual waterfall is about 45 min into the hike. Depending on time of year the waterfall may not have a lot of water but still a beautiful place.
- Some section as you go farther have a decent incline and could be a challenge for some.
- Wear decent shoes and remember rocks are slippery when wet😁
- This trail is not a loop so although it is easier going back down just remember however far you hike in, you have to hike back out.😓
- Some section as you go farther have a decent incline and could be a challenge for some.
- Wear decent shoes and remember rocks are slippery when wet😁
- This trail is not a loop so although it is easier going back down just remember however far you hike in, you have to hike back out.😓
We took a bunch of kids here and they had a blast. There weren't any cardboard boxes left there so we scavenged from the local businesses and found some as well as a big metal discarded pan that was a perfect sled. The kids were able to go down the hill, the heavier grownups had a harder time sliding far. We had a lot of fun and I recommend it. This is a few blocks from the splash pad at Coolidge Park, as well as Clumpies Ice Cream, all in walking distance.
Absolutely awesome one of the most fun activities in Chattanooga!!!
Small part of downtown with an European vibe, near the Art Museum. You need a permit to take photos. There are quite a few shops and restaurants. Most parking is paid, although the bridge has 2 hour free parking. Not every part is dog friendly but the sidewalks are pet friendly, some of the shops even leave water bowls out for your pup.
Very nice trail - It crosses two creeks before climbing up to a beautiful waterfall. The very last bit is steep but not bad at all, and the rest of it is pretty meandering. There are lots of stone steps in places, and overall it was hard on my knees, but a great trail nonetheless.
This is tougher hike because of a steep incline that lasts a good stretch, I found it quite hard but it’s labeled as moderate. The hiking path is clearly marked and there is some fun rock formations and fallen tree logs to climb over at certain points. It’s not too busy only passed a couple of groups and you go back the same path you came. After hiking up the mountain we got a reward of seeing a beautiful waterfall. When we started hiking back down the mountain our legs felt like jelly, a great workout!
No views, the lower part had lots of trash and skeeters, confusing signage on the lower regarding the trail vs private property, a large part of the loop "trail" is the street, and the wood walkway near the parking lot was in terrible condition. Will not do this trail again.
So beautiful
We have enjoyed the Bluff View Art District for many years. Great food at four restaurants. The sculpture garden is free and really worth a quick walk. Also two art museums are adjacent. Parking can be limited at times
We stumbled upon the sculpture garden by accident, and it was one of the highlights of our day. The garden is thoughtfully designed, and there is an interesting variety of sculptures, some by well-known artists. This should definitely be a targeted destination on a nice day in Chattanooga.
Confusing. Are people allowed to walk the big gated levee or not?? It says private property. I was afraid to go down it, but that's where I think most of the birds are. 😔
Gorgeous and I love how accommodating the area is for foot/bike traffic! We walked to whole thing with our dog, then we went back to get the bikes for a spin around the art district. Several street performers playing music too! But just a heads up, there are a lot of (leashed) dogs in the area so if your dog behaves poorly around other fur babies you might make other arrangements :). Hope this helps!
I love this place it has a special place in my heart. Me and a very few others call it the holly pond
Great wildlife .spectacular hike
Two excellent hikes at this trailhead, pot point and richie hollow.
Beautiful Gallery with many works of art for sale. We enjoyed the gardens and the Bliff view area as a whole. The apricot cookies were delicious at the coffee shop.
This is a great trail in an urban setting. There is just enough elevation change to give you a good workout. There are trails for bikes and hikes. It is pet friendly and there is an awesome view of tbe city along the way. There are restrooms available.
The trail starts out well (after you pass the barking dogs) and is great well marked. When tou cross the street and get closer to the river the maintenance on the trail isn't great.. There are areas with trees down, thorn filled vines. Not good.
Parking is sufficient, probably for 10 cars or so.
Parking is sufficient, probably for 10 cars or so.
Such a beautiful Art District. You can see that a plan of hard work and love went into this amazing area of Chattanooga! A must see!!! And some of the most delicious food and pastries that I have very eaten can be found at Bluff View Art District. Also a very fabulous Art Gallery!!!
Peaceful federally protected marsh with incredible bird diversity (more than 250 species have been recorded here) and a pleasant trail on a levee in the marsh and through a Virginia pine stand just above it. Trail gets muddy after rains and a train comes by fairly often just behind the marsh. Unfortunately litter is present around the margins of the marsh from less respectful Tennesseans, leave the place better off than you found it!
An unique place to spend an hour or two & walk around the different sculptures in a variety of art styles. Great place to bring the fur babies or have a picnic. They also host a handful of free fun events throughout the year!
Don't forget to check out the giant 'X' sculpture dedicated to Chattanooga's five fallen soldiers.
Don't forget to check out the giant 'X' sculpture dedicated to Chattanooga's five fallen soldiers.
After all the good reviews I was really surprised the this Trail was in such poor condition. In one area I could not find the trail at all and just have to walk through a grassy field for a while until I found the trail again on the other side. Also if you're going to do this hike you need to wear pants because the grassy area is completely overgrown and your legs will get really itchy when you walk through it. The first part of the hike is mostly uphill then it goes back down and then levels off for a while. The trail was actually okay until it got to the road. Once you cross the road and it goes toward the river it just really falls apart. The second part of the trail looks like it has not been maintained in a long time.
So far we enjoyed the hike..we haven't finished the hike yet though..
The best marsh habitat in southeast Tennessee. This place presents great outdoor viewing opportunities, including birds, dragonflies, butterflies, reptiles, and mammals. This marsh contains Virginia Rail, Sora, Rusty Blackbirds, American Bittern, and Least Bittern, in the appropriate seasons. Dragonflies include many species of Skimmers, Darners, and Pennants. Butterfly species include many types of Sulfurs, Bushfoots, and Skippers. Reptiles include several different species of turtles, and if you are lucky a snake. Mammals include squirrels, beavers, and on one occasion I saw an otter. UPDATE: The quality of the marsh has degraded over the years, and it is no longer the wildlife habitat that it used to be. Still nice for birding.
Fun times- little rock slide on part of the trail you should stay off of, but a good area!!
😘
Lots of beautiful and freely accessible art. Close to a lovely area of town. But be aware that it can be very hot, as there is little shade to utilize. Also it's a rather noisey place, too, as it's right along a busy road/bridge. It would probably be pleasant in the evening--but check their hours.
A nice place to watch and photograph birds. Just a few miles off I-75 North and your there.